Playboy Mouth (Queen Bee/RaStro)

Easier Said Than Done

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

I c e

I've seen the world, done it all, had my cake now
Diamonds, brilliant, and Bel-Air now

"Ang ganda-ganda ng boses ni Kai, ano?" Pang-aasar nitong si Jackie. "The Great Gatsby for The Gutsy Icy." I see what she did there, but I am not in the mood to laugh right now. "This is what you played and she sang, right? If I can remember, it happened when you two first kissed. Oh, dear piano," Paalala sa akin ni Jackie. Nasa top step kasi kami ng mahabang marble staircase. The band was playing in front of us with its original members.

"Yeah, I remember."

Hot summer nights, mid-July
When you and I were forever wild

"You remember the feeling, then?"

"I do, but I do not want to entertain the feeling anymore." Napansin siguro ni Jackie na hindi ako mapakali. "Jackie, can you get me a drink? Naiirita ako sa'yo," Utos ko sabay tulak sa kanya. Inirapan naman ako ng bahagya ng kanyang nobya. "Ricci, your girlfriend provoked me. And her glass needs refill as well."

The crazy days, city lights
The way you'd play with me like a child

"Oh, sure. Just be more polite next time."

"How is she? Um, Kai."

"Ayaw daw balikan, pero miss na miss naman." Siniko niya ako sabay kurot sa tagiliran. Patuloy pa din ako sa pagtitig kay Kai kahit na napakaraming taong pwede makahalata nito. Ha, I don't give a shit. This will be over soon. I'd take what I can get. "Hoy, harot. Ba't kasi ang taas-taas ng pride mo?"

Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul?
I know you will, I know will, I know that will
Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?

"Sige, Ice, palampasin mo na naman 'tong pagkakataong 'to," Wika ni Ricci, pareho na kaming nakatingin sa vocalist ng banda. Bakit kaya ganun? Kung single ka, puro masasayang couples ang nakikita mo. Kung committed ka naman, parang ang saya-sayang maging single. 'Yun nga lang, may tinatawag din tayong choice, na sumasalungat sa destiny na 'yan. Well, that's for me.

"I've had enough of her, Ricci."

"Who are you kidding?" Ricci tugged my arm. Yeah, she can do that now without me retaliating. "You simply cannot get enough of her, Cambria.

I've seen the world, lit it up as my stage now
Channeling angels in the new age now

"Ricci, I can't do this right now."

"Do what you need to do and be done with it, Ice." Hanggang ngayon, mahal pa rin niya ako, at mahal na mahal ko pa rin siya, pero bakit hindi kami? Kasi ayoko. Kasi natatakot ako. Kasi baka maulit lang ulit ang nangyari. She will once again take me for granted and I'm tired of being that girl. I feel so pathetic. "Magbalikan na lang kasi kayo. 'Di mo naman mahal yang si Fuckston, eh."

Hot summers days, rock and roll
The way you'd play for me at your show

"Sana nga ganun lang kadali, ano, Ricci?" Inirapan ko siya. "Pero hindi, eh. Hindi ko pa rin kasi makita ang determinasyon ni Kai."

And all the ways I got to know
Your pretty face and electric soul

Seryoso namang nakikinig sa usapan sina Carly at Jackie. "Oo, sabihin na nating mahal niya ako, mahal na mahal, at alam nating lahat 'yan, pero I think she's going to bail out on me again... once na may pagsubok na namang dumating."